Aaron Donald: The Iron Man of the NFL
Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald will be missing Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, coach Sean McVay announced Wednesday. While this injury spells trouble for a Rams team that’s had an underwhelming season, I think it’s more important to mention the incredible run Donald has had to this point.
His absence from the Rams’ clash with the Seahawks will be the first time Donald is missing a game due to an injury.
Defensive tackle is one of the most brutal positions on the field. Battling against 350-pound men on a weekly basis is sure to take a toll on the body — especially over the course of a now 17-game season. The fact Donald has been able to suit up for 138 out of 140 possible games is frankly amazing. He did miss two games in 2017 as part of a hold for a new contract, but not due to an injury.
Donald has played through his fair share of injuries. He played through a lower back injury in 2019 and played through a knee strain last season. Perhaps most impressive though was when he played through torn rib cartilage in 2019 against the Packers in the divisional round.
Now, Donald’s gifted ability as one of the best defensive players ever has ensured that he isn’t taking the normal beating for someone at his position. But the constant double teams he’s forced to deal with on a weekly basis have surely put his body through the wringer.
Despite how impressive this feat has been, it does appear that it’s coming to an end this next week.
McVay has said that Donald has suffered a high ankle sprain which normally a multi-week kind of injury. Although Donald is clearly as tough as they come in terms of playing through injuries, the severity of this injury, mixed with the Rams’ current spiral this season, there isn’t really a reason for him to risk playing and making it worse.
Donald is 31 years old going on 32 and has already hinted at the thoughts of retirement. While I would love for him to suit up and keep this impressive “streak” alive, it just doesn’t seem feasible. It was only a matter of time before he suffered an injury of this caliber, but let’s just be thankful it took this long and didn’t take away the experience of getting to watch one of the greatest defensive players ever.
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